Beverage dispensing system with electrical advertising device



Dec. 19, 1939. w. s. KEARNS 2,183,840

BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH ELECTRICAL ADVERTISING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 193B 6/ 60 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

w. s. KEARNS 2,183,840

BEVERAGE DIFSPENSING SYSTEM WITH ELECTRICAL ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed April 11, 19:58 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11/ III/n IIIIIIIII I II/I/Iw B INVENTUR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH ELECTRICAL ADVERTISING DEVICE William Sylvester Kearns, Providence, R. I. Application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201.414

.2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to fountains for dispensing beverages; and has for one of its objects the public display in a distinctive and conspicuous manner the name of each of the various brands or types of beverages obtainable at the fountain at the instant when the beverage is drawn from its respective tap.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device whereby the opening of any selected beverage dispensing tap will insure the display of the name of the beverage drawn from the opened tap to protect the patron from substitution of a beverage other than the one ordered. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electric advertising device including a control device therefor to be employed in association with each tap of a beverage dispensing apparatus whereby the name of each kind or type of beverage as it is drawn atits respective tap will be instantly announced in an effective and compellin manner and will be brought to the attention of the patrons in order to advertise the -extent of its popularity or demand.

Another object of the invention is the simultaneous advertising or signaling, such as for example by turning on an electrically illuminated advertising sign, in which the name or names of various beverages will be at the instantand for the duration that the individual taps or faucets for dispensing such products are turned on to draw the particular beverages called for by the patron.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device in which means is included for condisplayed in lights trolling the circuit of an electric sign to operate the same during the turning on of one or more of the individual taps when drawing the bever. ages to simultaneously light the sign to display the name properly identifying the particular bev erage being drawn, and to render the light inoperative after drawing of the beverage has stopped. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable and. efficient device which is cocrdinated with the movement of the handle of the dispensing tap to electrically control the operation of a light and to determine the duration of the lighting thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a fountain embodying the present invention and showing the usual back panel, bar counter and a few of the beverage dispensing taps positioned in their customary position at the rear of the bar counter; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a clamp member housing an electric control switch unit which is employed for controlling the operation of one of the electrical advertising devices; 3 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the beverage dispensing taps showing one of the electric control switch units mounted in a clamp member of the type shown in Fig. 2 and arranged in cooperating relation with the operating handle of one of the dispensing taps r Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the faucet structure andelectric control switch assembly shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the clamp member showing the structure of the electric control switch housedtherein, and taken approximately on the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus showing a pair of taps and their associated electric control switch units including their respective electrical circuits to the electrical advertising sign, in which one of the switches is represented in an open position while the other switch is indicated in closed position to cause illumination and display of one of the signs; I

Fig. dis a diagrammatic view of the beverage dispensing apparatus showing a modified ar-' rangement of electrical control mechanism involving the use of mercury tube switches associated with the individual dispensing taps, and also showing in the electric circuit for each sign a device associated with the beverage supply barrel for each faucet to render the apparatus tamper-proof difiicult of substitution of unauthorized beverage supply barrels;

Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal sectional view, 4

on enlarged. scale, of one of the electrical circuit connector devices associated with the beverage supply barrels;

-Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line ll'l|ll of Fig. 9;

i) Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line H-|I of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a central longitudinal sectional View of a modifiedconnector plug and socket construction;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the mercury tube switches; and

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line l4l4 of Fig. 13 showing the switch in mounted position on a control handle of a tap.

In the dispensing of beverages at a fountain or bar it is considered desirable to stimulate further sales of the various products by advertising the names, types or brands of each beverage in a compelling and prominent manner at the time that the individual beverages are being dispensed to the customer, so that the frequency with which sales of the product are made will be denoted to any patrons who may be in the vicinity of the bar so as to attract their attention to the apparent popularity and demand for each type of bev erage being served in the establishment; and in order to obtain this desirable result I have provided an electrically controlled advertising de vice, preferably in the form of an illuminated electric sign, designed to be supported above the bar in a prominent position facing the customers and so constructed and arranged as to display at all times the trade name of the beverage in large letters and in a continuously illuminated manner, while associated with this constantly illuminated sign, I have provided a plurality of separate electric signs each designating the various individual kinds or types of beverages obtainable under the same trade name; and I have so arranged these last named signs that they will be intermittently illuminated when and only at such times that the particular beverage to be indicated by each sign is being drawn from the corresponding tap or faucet; and to this end, I have provided an electric control switch individual to each tap for controlling an electric circuit for switching the tap denoting sign on and off when the selected tap handle is moved; and the switch unit is so constructed as to be mounted in proximity to the tap or faucet in such a location that when the tap handle is operated in a direction to draw the beverage, simultaneous movement of a movable element of the switch unit will occur in response to such handle movement to close an electric circuit and cause the lighting of the proper sign denoting the name of the type of beverage then being drawn; and I have further provided a switch structure which is constructed so as to be moisture-proof; and also a novel mounting therefor is provided capable of being adjustably positioned on the tap in order to compensate for any irregularities or obstructions presented by the bar in the vicinity of the switch, in which the mounting member is of a sectional construction, the mating faces of two of the sections being provided with interfitting saw toothed surfaces to enable relative lateral adjustment of the parts; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 10 designates generally one arrangement of a fountain or bar for dispensing beverages and comprises the usual counter H, a back panel l2 having a mirror l3, with spaced uprights or pillars M positioned in front of the back panel opposite its end extremities for supporting at their top ends an elongated panel member l5 which extends across the uprights in the direction of the length of the back panel l2 and constitutes the main display body, as will presently be described. Mounted upon the front face portion ofthe dis-- play panel l5 are a plurality of electric sign units is, ll, l8 and i9, each unit preferably comprising a neon sign of the conventional structure formed of a generally continuous length of glass tubing bent so that its outer contour will spell out a word or words denoting the name of the product being advertised, and filled with a gas which becomes luminous when an electrical discharge by high frequency current is passed through it. As shown in Fig. l the signs is and IT preferably are given such external formation that they may spell out the trade name or brand name of the particular beverage product obtainable at that section of the fountain, and these signs l6 and I! are intended to be illumi nated constantly for the benefit of the customers, and the general height of the letters of the name preferably should be of sufficient size that they will stand out boldly against the background of the panel l5.

Disposed beneath the signs l6 and I! are the separate illuminated signs l8 and i9, which as shown in Fig, 1 are of smaller size than the main signs 16 and H, and the size of the letters are of a height sufficient to show prominently and attract attention upon being illuminated, which display will occur at the instant that the particular beverage corresponding to the name designated by the sign is drawn at the fountain upon pulling of one of the taps or faucets 213 which are disposed immediately behind the counter II.

Since the taps 20 are of similar construction only one such structure need be described and this comprises a hollow body member 2! composed of metal, such as cast iron, brass or other metal commonly employed in the manufacture of pipe fittings, constructed of generally L- shaped formation and provided at one end with a removable spout portion attached thereto by a nut 23 and depending downwardly for convenience in directing the flow of the beverage into a container. A flange 24 of suitable shape terminates the opposite end extremity of the tap 20 and serves to connect the same with the pipe for supplying the beverage from a source of sup ply in the basement of the establishment. The beverage may comprise a gas charged liquid under pressure, which liquid is capable of foaming after being drawn. A reduced neck portion 25 connects the flange 24 with the body member 2|.

For operating the tap, there is provided an operating handle 26 having secured at one end thereof a yoke 21 which is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 28 on the top portion of the body member 2| while at the other end of the handle 26 is secured a ball or other suitable grip member 29 provided with a portion 39 arranged at an angle and adapted to face the customer when the handle 26 is in a vertical or closed position. The inclined portion til may carry on its surface suitable insignia, symbols or name denoting the type or kind of beverage that may be drawn from that particular tap and thus provide a visual check by the customer in order that he may observe whether or not the correct tap is turned on to give him the beverage asked for.

In order to provide an electric control for operating the electrical signs l8 and i9 simultaneously during the drawing of the beverages corresponding to the name to be displayed by these si ns, I have provided in one embodiment of the invention an electric switch unit 35 housed within a support member designated 36, which may be constructed of a suitable plastic molding material common in the art, such as Bakelite, and of a generally L-shaped, split structure formed in three separate sections 31, 38 and ,39, the switch unit being housed within the upper portion of the top section 31. The mating surfaces of the sections 38 and 39 are provided with oppositely disposed central semi-cylindrical recesses 40 and 41 which form in the assembled position of the sections 38 and 39 a circular opening 52 of a size adapted to receive the neck portion 25 of the tap 20 in the clamped position of the switch support member 36 about such section of the tap by means of elongated clamping bolts 44, nuts 45 and washers 46. Circular openings 41 and 48 are formed in the superposed s'u pport sections 39 and 58 respectively. and these openings extend vertically upwardly in aligned relation to provide an enlarged cylindrical. bore the diameter of which is several times that of the bolt 44 which is accommodated therein. The bolts 44 are each fixed at their innermost end in the composition of the molded section 3'! by reason of their flanged heads 49.

Referring specifically to the electric control switch units 35, each is of similar construction and consists of a hollow cylindrical shell 50 of generally cup-shaped formation struck out of sheet metal and having one end provided with a perforated wall 5| while the other end is closed by a cylindrical plug 52 composed of a suitable electrical insulating material, such as for example, rubber, Bakelite or other well known electrical non-conducting material. The inner end of the plug 5| is provided centrally thereof with r a cylindrical recessextending longitudinally into the body portion of the plug, and housed within this recess 52 are a pair of electric contact members 54 and 55 which comprise the fixed con tests of the respective circuit for controlling one of the electric signs l8 and Hi. The contacts 54 and 55 are each formed preferably of fiat strips of metal, the lower end portions of which are embedded at diametrically opposite positions in the body portion of the plug 52 in the act of molding the same and have their lower end extremities projecting outwardly beyond the bot tom end face of the plug and connected respectively with either the circuit wires 56 and 51, or 5%" and 5?, see Figs. 3 and 7, of the cable 58 which is molded into the composition of the upper section 3?. A rivet 551s positioned crosswise of the lower portion of 'the plug 52 and passes through suitable holes which are formed the embedded portion of the contacts 54 and and are of larger diameter than the rivet so as to prevent the latter from short circuiting of the contacts.

dially of the recess 53 to form fixed contacts of generally L-shaped formation which are spaced apart at diametricaily opposite sides of the slidable rod This rod 55 extends through the opening in the neck portion 5i of the wall 5! of the shell 51? and carries on the end projecting within the recess 53, an annular head 62 formed of an electrical conducting material which is designed to be moved into bridging engagement with the contacts 54 and 55 to close the circuit to one of the electric signs l8 and I?) when the plunger head 63 carried on the opposite end of the rod 55 and slidable within a guide sleeve 54 is moved to the left of the showing in Fig. 6 by the spring upon pulling downwardly of the faucet handle 20.

head 52 into electric contact therewith by the The spring 65 encircles the intermediate portion of the rod with one end of the spring bearing against the inside end of the plunger head 63 and the other end bearing againstan abutment which forms the top of the neck 6 'portion 5i and extends inwardly into one end an upwardly extending direction when no bever- 15 age is being drawn from the tap.

One of these switch. units 35 forms a control member of an electric circuit which, as indicated in Fig. '7, is traced from contact 54 over lead 58 to an electric sign l9, thence over lead iii, through auxiliary switch H and over lead '12 to the battery 13, then over lead wires l4 and 5'! to the other contact 55 of the switch 55 shown to the right of Fig. 7. The terminals 5d and 5 of a second switch unit, shown at the left of Fig. 7, may be connected in parallel to the electric circuit of the first switch unit 35 so that the electric circuit of the second switch may be closed by pulling down a difierent tap handle to cause electric current to pass from the battery '53 through the contacts 54 and 55, the bridging contact head 62, leads 55 and 51',

, thence to the electric sign l8 to light the same and display the name of a different beverage during drawing of the same from a different tap. The signs Hi and Il, however, are continually lighted since they are connected in series with the battery l3, electric current passing from the battery over leads l5 and 15 to one end of the sign li,'thence through the sign :7 and over 40 wire '57, through auxiliary switch H, and over lead '52 to the battery. The switch H serves to provide a means to open circuit the signs l5 and I! to render them inoperative aiong with other signs l8 and I9.

It will be apparent that by pulling downwardly on any of the tap handles 28 when drawing the beverage, the switch contacts 54 and 55 will be readily engaged by movement of the contact 50 action of the spring for closing the circuit to oneor the other of the electric signs 58 and i9 and the duration of the lighting of these signs will of course be in response to the frequency or duration of the closings and openings of the 55 electric circuit through the make and break connections with the contacts 34 and 35 by the movable bridging contact head 62. i

It will also be observed that a moisturapi switch. assembly is provided since the vs parts of the switch together with c members are effectively housed not only the guide sleeve and the shell but that the tire unit isembeddedinto the compositionv of th section at the time of molding of the I In Fig. 8 there is illustrateddiagrann another embodiment of the invention i the electrical control devices for operate; electric circuits of the respective electric sig 85, 8| and 82 when beverages denoted by the signs are dispensedfrorn their respect comprise mercury tube switches as indicate 84 and 85 respectively which are mount d close proximity to the individual operating handles i and 81 of the beverage dispensing taps or faucets,

not shown, but which taps are of conventio construction and form no part of the present in-- vention. Each of the switches 84 and $5 is actuated by movement of the respective valve operating handles 86 or 87 in a direction as to cause either making or breaking of the electric circuit to the signs and dependent upon the proper direction of movement of said handles to effect either open or closed circuit position of the switch elements.

The mercury tube switches 84 and are each. of similar construction and, as shown in Figs. 13 and i l, comprise a thin walled glass tube closed at both ends having sealed in one end wall at oppositely disposed positions thereof a par of metal contact members QI and 92 respecti; which are disposed one above the other and converging inwardly in spaced relation, the tips of which upon being intermittently submerged by the mercury bath 93 upon displacement of t e same by the motion of the operating handles it or of the tap, thus causing the level of the mercury to alternately approach and rece rom the top contact of the tube to eifect making and breaking of the electric circuit connected by Wl 94 and 95 or iii and 91 to the particular signs ill or 82 corresponding to the name given to that particular beverage during drawing of the same at the corresponding dispensing taps.

Suitable means are provided for rncvabi' mounting the mercury tube switches and respectively, and in my preferred construction, I have provided two clamp members and which preferably are formed of a suitable molded electrical insulating material, having on their inside faces complementary recesses Mill and Sill, the recesses l9 being semi-cylindrical in. the clamped position of the members providing a cylindrical hole adapted to receive and embrace a portion of one of the operating handles and 8? respectively, of the beverage dispensing when the members 98 and i i] are securely clamped thereto by means of the bolt I62. and nut When mounted in this position on the operating handle the recesses IEJI, which consist of cylindrical bores extending inwardly from the mating surfaces of the members 98 and Q9 and are closed at their inner ends, will be in registry and provide housing for accommodating one of tubular mercury switches.

The apparatus is further provided with a de vice associated with each beverage supply barrel and incorporated in the electric circuit of each of the faucet controlled electric signs, for rendering the electrical operating circuit substan" tially tamper-proof and to permit connection only to the designated sign and tap of the sealed bevsupply container of the type that intended to be indicated by the sign, thus preventing substitution of either a different type of beverage or of a competitors product. To this end, I provide each of the beverage supply containers with a device which is a permanent and integral part of'the container structure and located in. a convenient position thereon, the device being adapted to provide a plug-in main electrical connector for both the power circuit to the switch and the operating circuit for the respective This protection device comprises an electrical connector member Hi5 having two plug outlets at di erent side positions and formed of a body table molded electrical insulating of The member M35 is provided with a flange t lt and annular recess till at its base portion into which recess is inserted an annular lip we of the metal flanged ring I 09 secured by welding, as indicated at lit, to the head member of the beverage supply container or barrel B. Spring contact clips H2 and H3 respectively are incorporated within the body of the connector device and are bent so as to have their opposite ends disposed in one of the outlet openings of each side portion where they serve as the connectors for connecting the terminal prongs H5 and H6 of the extension plug I I1, and the prongs l l8 and Mt) of the extension plug I26 which are carried by the cables IEI and I22 respectively which are connected to the electrical circuit of the sign and the power supply source.

The connector plug I20 may be of the usual type employed for common extension cords but the plug member I? is of a special design in which the two prongs I I5 and I IS carried thereby have a different cross-sectional shape or surface contour or are arranged in a different plane in order to prevent reversal or interchangeability of the plug prongs by insertion into the companion outlet portion of the same outlet of the connector device its in electrically coupling the cables i2! and Hill of the apparatus during installation of a beversupply barrel.

The electric circuit employed for controlling the signs ill and 32 by operation of the mercury tube switches 84 and 85, is of the same general. plan as that utilized in the embodiment shown Fig. 7, where the plunger type switches 3! were used, and in Fig. 8 this circuit is traced from contact ill of switch 85 over lead 95 to an electric sign t2, thence over lead I25 through auxiliary switch I 26, and over lead IZ'I to the connector device I95, thence over prong I I5, contact clip Hi2, prong H9, lead i228 to the battery then through auxiliary switch HM, which is to be used to cut off the power during disconnection of each power cable i212 from the barrel, then over lead wire I32, to the connector device through prong IIS, contact clip M8, prong H6; and over wires I33 and 91 to the other con-- tact 93% of the mercury switch. Similarly, the electric sign iii is connected electrically with the contacts of the mercury switch 8% traced from contact 95 by wire 94, to the electric sign SI, thence over lead E35, through auxiliary switch i225, wires till and 536, connector device IE5, over leads it? and Q13 to the battery i3ll, then through auxiliary switch Iili, over wires I32 and I38, to connector device H15, thence over wires I39, I40, ill and Ml to the other contact of the mercury switch 84.

The main sign 89, however, will be lighted con tinuously during operation of the fountain, in which instance, electric current is supplied from the battery to the sign 89 over wires I32, I45 and EM through the sign 88, thence over wire li 'l, through auxiliary switch ISM, over wires 521 and 523 to the battery. The auxiliary switches We and H28 may each serve to cut out the signs when the fountain is idle.

In use, it will be seen that when either of the operating handles 34 and 85 are in idle position. as represented in Fig. 8, the mercury bath $53 will e in a substantially horizontal position and out of submerging relation or electrical contact with the tip of contact 9! as is indicated in Fig. 13. When one both of the operating handles 85 or ill is separately pulled in a direction to cause discharge of beverage from the dispensing tap one of the respective mercury switches 84 or 85 together to complete the electric circuit will be moved bodily in the direction of movement of its respective support, via, the operating handle, and thus. cause displacement of the mercury bath toward and into electrical conducting relation with the upper contact 9i of the tubes to electrically connect the contact members 9! and 92 respectively, and close the electric circuit to the signs 8! or $2 to cause one or both to be lighted. This displacement of the mercury is very rapid so that operation of the electric sign connected to the electric circuit of the switch takes place almost at once when the operating handle of the valve is moved forwardly. Conversely, when either of the operating handles 86 and 81 are pushed back into its idle position there will be a recession of the mercury away from the tips of the electrical contacts 9i and 92 to a horizontal position correspondingto that shown in Fig. 13, thus extinguishing and rendering inoperative the faucet controlled electric sign connected to that circuit. It will also be seen that duration of the operation or the illumination of the elec tric signs l8, I9 and 8!, 82 is determined entirely by the frequency and extent in which the beverage dispensing taps are in use.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a modified form of separable electrical connector device associated with the head of a barrel, and this comprises a plug member I553 provided at one end with a prong |5| and a recess I52 within which is a contact clip I53, the prong I'zil being adapted to have interiitting engagement within a recess Hi5 carrying a contact clip 556 carried by a socket mem ber 57, the clip l5li being connected with 2. prong I58 upstanding from the end of the socket member I51 and adapted to fit within the recess I52 of the plug I to connect electrically with the clip I53 therein. A wire Hill from the power supply line and a wire l6! from the sign circuit have connection with the inner ends of the clip I53 and the prong l5! respectively.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a beverage dispensing system, in combination, a bar, a tap associated with said bar for dispensing a beverage, an electric sign adapted to be illuminated for display of the name of the beverage which is drawn from said tap when the same is turned on for dispensing the trio switch movable into a position to cause illumination of the sign upon movement of said tap into a liquid dispensing position, an electric circuit connecting said switch and said sign, and electrical connector means in association with said circuit through which means electric current passes from a central source of supply to said electric circuit, said connector means being mounted directly on the supply barrel for serving said tap.

2. In a beverage dispensing system, in combination, a bar, a tap associated with said bar for dispensing a beverage, an electric sign adapted to be illuminated for display of the name ofthe beverage which is drawn from said tap when the same is turned on for dispensing the beverage, an electric switch movable into a position to cause illumination of the sign upon movement of said tap into a liquid dispensing position, an electric circuit connecting said switch and said sign, and electrical connector means in association with said circuit through which means electric current passes from a central source of supply to said electric circuit, said connector means being mounted directly on the supply barrel for serving said tap, and comprising an electrical receptacle having spaced metallic contact members so constructed and arranged that they can only serve for detachable connection with correspondingly spaced metallic contact pins of a plurality of electrical attachment plugs carried by the respective conductor wires of said electric circuit and the supply mains for permitting operation of said electrical circuit only when interchangeable supply barrels for the beverage carrying duplicate electrical receptacles are employed in the system.

WILLIAM SYLVES'IER KEARNS.

beverage, an elec- 

